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This background paper discusses the coverage of prescription drugs through the Medicaid program. Some of the issues addressed include who is eligible to receive drugs, how drug coverage is paid for, and how much money states spend on drugs. Background Paper
Health News Index May/June, 2000 The May/June 2000 edition of the Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health, Health News Index includes questions about major health stories covered in the news, including questions about the Congressional Democrats' proposal to have the Medicare program cover prescription drug costs for the elderly. The survey is based on a national random sample of 580 Americans and was conducted May 26-June 4, 2000. The survey measures public knowledge of…
This report is a case study of five states' (California, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington) implementation of prior authorization in their Medicaid programs. REPORT Download
These briefing charts provide background information on prescription drug use and spending among the Medicare population, recent survey data on employers' likely reaction to a Medicare drug benefit, an overview of the proposals for prescription drug coverage passed by the House and Senate at the end of June 2003, and a summary of the key issues to be resolved in the conference. Chart Pack
This November 2001 Chartbook updates data from last year's chartbook, including information about prescription drug coverage, expenditures and prices, utilization, drug promotion, and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has been monitoring the development of the Pharmacy Plus waiver initiated by the Bush Administration in 2002 and tracking the states that have pending or approved plans. The Commission has developed some materials describing the initiative, examining the financing mechanism, and discussing the implications for the Medicaid program and participating states. The Pharmacy Plus initiative allows states to secure federal Medicaid matching funds for prescription programs for…
This issue brief, prepared as part of the National ADAP Monitoring Project, examines ADAP formulary coverage of medications for the prevention and treatment of AIDS-related Opportunistic Infections across states, including trends in coverage and expenditures over time, and discusses some of the potential reasons for variations in coverage. For more information on the series see the National ADAP Monitoring Project page. Issue Brief
Completed for the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, by Health Management Associates. Compiled from Medicaid State Plans and Amendments approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and from State websites, with verification by State and Territorial Medicaid officials in March 2003.
This article, published online by Health Affairs on April 14, 2004, estimates the extent to which prescription drug discount cards could affect out-of-pocket spending by Medicare beneficiaries who lack drug coverage, based on an analysis of the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. The Medicare discount card program is scheduled to go into effect in June of 2004. Health Affairs Article
This report examines the early experience with the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program, prices offered by card sponsors, and potential savings for enrollees. The report presents information about approved discount card programs, including sponsors, enrollment fees, and drugs covered, as well as beneficiary education and outreach efforts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The pricing analysis shows that discount cards can deliver savings off of full retail drug prices, but also that savings…
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